Box or can



(No Model.)

A. CAMERON, Jr.

BOX 0R CAN. No. 602,653. Patented Apr. 19,1898.

rvr'rn ALEXANDER CAMERON, JR, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

BOX OR CAN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 602,653, dated April 19, 1898.

Application filed June 15, 1897- Serial No. 640,840. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER CAMERON, J12, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boxes or Cans; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to cans or boxes, preferably made of tin, for shipping goodsas, for instance, tobaccowhich it is desired to keep hermetically sealed during transportation and which can be readily opened without the use of an auxiliary can-opener.

To this end my invention consists, first, of a box or can the body of which is provided with a thin permanent cover, sometimes termed a tagger cover, and on its outer surface near its upper edge with studs or projections and a removable out-er cover provided on its under side with a cutter and the flange of the removable cutter provided with novel means for holding the cutter during transportation out of engagement with the tagger top, but which is so constructed that when desired the cutter can be brought into contact with the tagger top and the cover revolved to out out the tagger top, and a peripheral groove whereby the cutter on the outer cover can be prevented from accidentally coming in contact with the tagger tin d urin g transportation, and when desired the cutter can be brought in contact with said tagger tin and the outer cover rotated to cut out the tagger tin and the said outer cover held in engagement with the body of the box or can.

Second. It consists of a body portion having studs or projections on its outer surface near its upper edge and a permanent tagger cover or top and a removable outer cover having a vertical flange and provided with a stationary knife or cutter and on its vertical flange with means for engaging the studs on the body of the can and holding the cutter during transportation out of engagement with the tagger top, the construction and arrangement being such that when desired the cutter can be brought into contact with the tagger top and the cover revolved to cut out the tagger top.

Third. It also consists in constructing the cutter with one or two shoulders, so that when the cutter is forced through the tagger tin the shoulder or shoulders will engage the under side of the tagger tin and prevent the cutter from becoming accidentally disengaged therefrom until the cutting operation is completed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the box or can made in accordance with my invention, the outer removable cover being slightly raised from the body of the can. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the box with the stud engaging the slot on the cover to prevent the further descent of the cutter. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the box orcan, showing the outer cover forced down and the cutter penetrating the tagger tin and the stud engagingthe peripheral groove. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the inside of the top cover, showing the cutter formed with one shoulder; and Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the cutter formed with two shoulders.

A in the drawings represents the body of the can, which is cylindrical in shape andcan be made in any desired size. Near the upper edge of the can, on the outer surface thereof, studs or projections a are provided. The body of the can is also provided with a permanent thin or tagger cover a.

B represents an outer removable cover which is provided on its under side with a downwardly projecting knife or cutter O, which is preferably secured to the cover in any suitable manner.

The cutter or knife 0 is preferably formed with a shoulder c, as shown in Fig. 4, or may be made arrow-shaped and provided with two shoulders c c, as shown in Fig. 5. By constructing the knife or cutter with a shoulder or shoulders it will be observed that when the knife or cutter is forced through the tagger tin and the removable cover revolved the shoulder or shoulders will engage the under side of the tagger tin, and the knife will thereby be prevented from accidentally becoming disengaged from said tin, but can readily be disengaged after the cutting oper ation is completed by reversing the movement of the removable cover. By constructing the knife or cutter with two shoulders the tagger tin can be cut out by revolving the removable cover in either direction and either shoulder will engage the under side of the tagger tin, whereas when only one shoulder is provided the knife could not be revolved in both directions to cut out the tagger tin and be held in engagement with the under side of the tin.

Vertical slots D, having lateral extensions, are provided in the flange of the removable cover diametrically opposite each other. These slots extend through the lower edge of the flange, forming a vertical entrance-passage d, which extends through a peripheral groove E, extending around said flange, and a lateral extension 01' extends from the vertical passage.

The removable cover B is placed upon the body of the can so as to bring the studs or projections a in line with a vertical entrancepassage (2 of the slots, and the cover is forced downwardly until the studs or projections are in line with the transverse slot (2, and by giving the said cover a slight turn the studs or project-ions will be caused to engage the upper wall of said transverse slot and prevent the cover from being accidentally forced farther down, which would cause the knife or cutter carried by said cover to penetrate the tagger tin and allow air to enter the body of the can. The flange on the removable cover is made of suflicient depth to have a secure bearing contact upon the body of the can when the stud or projection is engaged by the upper wall of the transverse slot during transportation.

When it is desired to remove the tagger tin and bring the removable cover farther downward and cause the knife or cutter carried thereby to penetrate the tagger tin, the removable cover is revolved in a reverse direction to that in which it was turned when the said cover was caused to engage the studs until the studs are brought into the vertical passage and the cover forced downward until the knife penetrates the thin tin and the studs are in line with the peripheral groove E, and by revolving the removable cover the studs will enter the peripheral groove and engage the walls of the same and will prevent the cover from being removed from the body of the can until the studs are again brought in line with the vertical passage of the T-shaped slots.

From the aforegoing description it will be seen that I provide an inexpensive and simple means for preventing the cutter from entering the tagger tin during transportation, and also provide a means whereby the cover is permitted to be rotated to cut out the tag. ger tin and by the same means lock the cover on the body of the box without requiring the removable cover to be lifted off of the body of the box to place the knife in an operative position, or provide auxiliary means for securing the outer removable cover on the box after the tagger tin has been cut out. It is obvious that this can can be used for shipping tobacco, paint, condensed milk, and the like, which it is desired to keep hermetically sealed, and provided with a means of readily removing the permanent cover, and also that the removable outer cover can be provided with any number of knives and engaging means.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A box or can comprising a body portion having studs or projections near its upper edge and a permanent tagger tin cover, a removable outer cover provided with a knife or cutter and vertical slots having lateral extensions and a peripheral groove, substantially as described.

2. A box or canlcomprising a body portion provided with engaging means and a tagger cover, a removable outer cover provided with a knife or cutter having a shoulder or shoulders to engage the under side of the tagger tin, and means on the cover for engaging the engaging means on the body of the can, substantially as described.

3. A box or can comprising in its construction a body portion having projections or studs near its upper edge and having a tagger top and a removable outer cover having a knife or cutter and provided with means engaging the studs for preventing the cover and the cutter carried thereby from coming in contact with the tagger cover during transportation, said means when engaging the said studs also looking the cover against being moved up and down longitudinally of the body of the can, substantially as described.

4. A box or can comprising in its construction a body portion proper provided with studs or projections on its outer surface near its upper edge having a permanent tagger top, and a removable outer cover having a cutter and provided on its flange with a peripheral groove and vertical slots having lateral extensions adapted to receive the said studs, substantially as described.

5. A box or can comprising a body portion having studs or projections on its outer surface near its upper edge and a permanent tagger cover or top, and a removable outer cover having a Vertical flange and provided with a stationary knife or cutter, and on its vertical flange with means for engaging the studs on the body of the can and holding the cutter, during transportation, out of engagement with the tagger top, the construction and arrangement being such that, when desired, the cutter can be brought into contact with the tagger top and the cover revolved to cut out the tagger top, substantially as described.

6. A box or can comprising a body portion having studs or projections on its outer surface near its upper edge and a permanent tagger cover or top, and a removable outer cover having a vertical flange and provided with a stationary knife or cutter and on its vertical flange with a peripheral groove, and means for engaging the studs on the body of the can and holding the cutter, during transportation, out of engagement with the tagger top, the construction and arrangement being such, that, when desired, the cutter can be brought into contact with the tagger top and the studs caused to enter the peripheral groove, and by revolving the cover the tagger top will be cut out, the peripheral groove also serving with the studs, as a means of locking the removable cover on, after the tagger top has been cut out, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ALEXANDER CAMERON, JR. Witnesses:

HENRY L. AINSLIE, HENRY T. W. SOUTHERN. 

